Procrastinators Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from chronic procrastination.

I think I need serious help

Hey all,

 

This is my first post here and I'm hoping I can get some advice. I've been a procrastinator for as long as I can remember. I was "functional" for a long time. I managed to get stuff done but it was always done at the last possible moment. However, I've hit a brick wall. I'm currently trying to finish my master's thesis. Emphasis on trying because I've already put it off for a year. All my coursework is done. 

 

I just feel like I've been trapped in this cycle of resistance, failure and despair for this past year. It's slowly getting worse and I'm just degenerating. Over the course of the past year my life has slowly become nothing but working at a crappy job, then coming home and playing World of Warcraft/watching TV/net-surfing (I have all three going at the same time. I can multitask THAT) and drinking alone a lot of the time. I have a friend here who occsionally takes pity on me and takes me out on the town. Other than that I get all my social contact at work and I really dont go anywhere. I've systematically phased out tasks/chores that are not absolutely necessary. For example, I havent vaccuumed or cleaned the bathroom for months. The most ridiculous example I have is that I have a pair of work pants that I love to wear but they're dry-clean only. I'd rather not wear them if it means me driving to the drycleaners and getting them cleaned. 

I know I need to change. I tell myself that if I finish my thesis I'll be able to find a better job. I tell myself this is no way to live; that it's unhealthy and that I'm probably killing myself. I tell myself all of this and it doesnt make a difference. I understand all of this intellectually. I get angry, try to change something, quickly lose steam, quit, get depressed, then get fearful and anxious. Sometimes I can't sleep.  Then it repeats. I'm resistant to the vast majority of things I need to do. It's like I don't care...but I do.

 

I'm getting to the point where it's hard to see a way out of this. I've actually considered joining a monastary or peace corps, just to escape this. I know it takes time for things to change, that things wont instantly become better. But I need it NOW. A lot of the times I feel like I don't have the strength to climb out of this hole.  Anyway, that's my story. 

welcome, DC

Many of us share your struggles here. The many articles here are good, as is checking in and working while in the chat box. Hang in there and try to start on something small so you can have the feeling of accomplishment that you can build on with more daily successes, however small. It is too daunting to look at the whole sometimes, so try to break everything down into smaller, more manageable bits.

Glad you are here!

rec

Hi Dark Catalyst - welcome!!

I am fairly new to this site and I can relate so much to your share. Not caring, (and I really think I don't care)...not doing the housecleaning or good self-care..depression...being highly functional at one time.

A main problems coming here was calling in sick too much at work. I'm finding that I am just showing up (at least today - day 7) because of being here.

I have also known people involved in the dissertation process and I know from them that it is not easy!! I pray you'll find the help you need here.

I look forward to our recovery in the days to come.

♥"Kindness and truth have met, righteousness and peace have kissed." Psalm 85♥

Thanks for the kind words. I

Thanks for the kind words. I think what's making this harder than necessary for me is the fact that I feel like a massive loser for allowing this to happen. I mean, sure, I can admit that my thesis wasn't perfect. I wouldn't have finished in 2 years anyway. But a whole extra year? What the hell was I thinking? I wasted so much time on a stupid game. I would get up in the morning, play, go to work, come back home and play until I went to bed. Just about everyday. The sad thing is, that World of Warcraft was all I had in my life, now that I've quit I feel like I have nothing.

DC greetings

Most of us were in similar shape when we found PA - certainly I was. I'd surrendered the drinking years ago in AA, but in my later years it seemed that other addictions - especially chronic procrastination - had taken its place.  I was 6 years behind in taxes, self-employed with a 6 month backlog of billables I had not even sent out, piles of paper everywhere in my rarely-cleaned home, dysfunctional relationships and serious depression.

Then I found this site, and these great folks here who have become true friends. Today I'm relatively functional, reasonably content, and have reduced my late fees/penalties from thousands of dollars annually to under $200 this year.  So keep coming back, DC.  The folks who keep coming back here, checking in daily, tend to be the ones who get the breakthroughs.  See you on the daily pages!

Welcome D.C.

You'll find several people here that are working on theses and disserations.  You will find support here.

Jo

"True terror is to wake up one morning and discover that your high school class is running the country."  - Kurt Vonnegut 

Welcome

Thank you for sharing. You are not alone. You took the first step. One step at a time, keep comingback.